January 14, 2019Dear Parents:Permit me to take the opportunity to extend to each of you most sincere and cordial best wishes for a New Year of grace, peace, and good health. May God continue to bless our dear little ones, the children of St. Paul the Apostle Preschool, and keep them from all harm of mind body or soul. At the same time may I extend sincere gratitude to you for sending your children to St. Paul’s. I am keenly aware that you have many options in the area of child care, and we are most appreciative of your loyalty, trust, and generosity.Many of you probably are aware of my love for the Preschool. Each day when the church bell strikes nine, I make my way over to greet you and your children upon your arrival. The 9.15 bell rings and the children go in to class, usually all smiles. No wonder why they sing I love St. Paul’s Preschool with such enthusiasm. Such would never be the case without the dedication, selflessness, care, and outstanding service and devotion of two remarkable ladies, our Administrator, Mrs. Gayle Crimarco, and our Administrative Assistant, Mrs. Debbie Oliva. Between the two of them they have more than 40 years of service to the Preschool. As pastor of the Church, I have never had anything other but complete trust, confidence and admiration in and respect for them. In addition to our administrative staff our faculty and aides have over 100 years of service to the Preschool. I need not tell you of their outstanding service. As for myself, I have simply tried not to get in the way, and to bless the children each day.It is for that reason that I have had to come to the most difficult decision of my 39 years as a priest. Our Preschool will close after the graduation ceremonies in June of 2019. I have made this decision only after a great deal of time in prayer and after consultation with other pastors, diocesan officials and my parish advisors. It is a sad decision. As you may know 15 years ago our Preschool had more than 125 children. Now we have 54 and are looking at a significant decrease for next year. In addition, demographics in our area have changed and few St. Paul families find themselves using our parish Preschool. The introduction of Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) has also taken a toll on St. Paul’s and other Preschools. Just today we have read in Newsday and seen on Channel 12 that two more Catholic Grammar Schools will close in June. (All Saints Regional in Glen Cove and St. Joseph in Ronkonkoma).Please be assured that we all stand ready to assist you in every way to find an alternative for your children. I was most anxious to communicate this news to you before registration would begin. We did not want to register children with the full knowledge that we would be closing. In the next few weeks we hope to have representatives of both St. Edward the Confessor Preschool (Syosset) and Our Lady of Mercy Preschool (Hicksville/Plainview) come to speak to us about their own programs. Each of these parishes has a Catholic Grammar School and the Preschool often becomes a so-called feeder for the Grammar schools. We at St. Paul have never had a Grammar School and thus our Preschool has never been a feeder.Although never a feeder school, nonetheless our Preschool has been a feeder in the broad sense. In its long history St. Paul’s has fed countless little ones with the uplifting truths of the Catholic faith, the love for God, country and family. When I see the children, I understand more than ever why Our Lord Jesus Christ taught, “Unless you become like the little ones, you shall never enter the kingdom of Heaven.”I am certain of very few things but of one thing I am certain. I am certain that when the Church bell tolls nine on September 9, 2019, a tear will be shed in the rectory. May my closing words to you be those of St. Jeanne Jugan, the Foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor, who would always say:Be little; be always little.Once again thanking you for your kindness and attention, and with best wishes, I am always In Jesus and Mary,

The familiar abbreviation IHS is a symbol of the name Jesus, which has retained its popularity down through the centuries. It owes its spread to St. Bernardine of Siena, who had it placed on his banner, surrounded with twelve rays of the sun and surmounted by a cross. It soon became the most popular monogram for the holy Name of Jesus. By his fervent words, St. Bernardine persuaded many priests to place the letters on altars or on the interior and exterior walls of churches. Many Italian cities responded to his efforts and put the monogram in large letters on the outer walls of their town halls, as may still be seen in Siena.

Eternal Father, who did give your incarnate Son the holy name of Jesus, to be the sign of our salvation: Plant in every heart, we beseech thee, the love of him who is the Savior of the world, even our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

The month of January is dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus, “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (Phil 2:10). Christ's name is chosen in heaven, and the Angel Gabriel announces it when he informs the Blessed Virgin of the incarnation: "Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus” (Lk1:31).

It is a name that has marvelous implications, for it means "savior." The very name bespeaks the magnitude of His mission, His infinite love, a love that will cause Him to offer Himself up for us.The name of Jesus is the sweetest of all names, and He who bears it is most worthy of all love. He who calls Jesus his friend can be assured that this friend is the most devoted and unselfish of all friends.

Jesus is our all. In His name we may pray to the Father with assurance of being heard. In His name the Church administers all her sacraments. In His name the Church offers all her prayers and blesses homes, the fields, and the sick. In the name of Jesus, the Church casts out evil spirits, and at the hour of our death bids us, "Go forth, Christian soul." The Church assures us that whoever shall call upon this name will be saved. Adopted from Benedict Baur, O.S.B.

From the PastorJanuary 20, 2019The Second Sunday in Ordinary TimeThe Second Sunday After Epiphany

THE SAINTS – OUR DEAREST FRIENDS

Dear Parishioners of Our Beloved St. Paul:

Praised be Jesus Christ and Mary His Most Holy Mother! As everyone is undoubtedly well aware, here at St. Paul’s the saints play a very important part in the life of our parish. Each weekday, after the 8.00am Mass, we have a novena to either Our Blessed Mother or one of the saints. Several times a week we venerate the relics of the saints after the morning Mass. Many of you may recall my first All Saints’ Day here at St. Paul’s in 2013. There were over 50 relics of the saints on display in the Church. Yes, the saints are very important to us all; they are our dearest friends.

Besides their intercession for us before the throne of almighty God (as if that were not enough), the saints teach us many things. They inspire us to seek to live holy lives – to live the life of Christ. From the example of thousands of martyrs and God’s servants throughout the ages, we see those who – starting with our sinless Savior Himself – patiently and joyfully endured marginalization, harsh treatment, persecution, the confiscation of their goods, false accusations; cruel torture and death, on account of their adherence to Jesus Christ. Indeed, has Our Lord not told us that we should expect such things to happen?

In the Gospel of St. Matthew, Our Lord takes a multitude of people up a mountain in Galilee, has them sit down, and preaches to them. That event is called The Sermon on the Mount, and what He preached we call The Beatitudes. We know them. We have heard them many times. They begin: “Blessed are the poor in spirit …” Yet though we may know the Beatitudes well, we often forget how they end, when our Lord says: “Blessed are you, when they insult you, and persecute you, and utter every kind of evil against you falsely, because of me. Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward will be great in Heaven.” Yes, Jesus really said that. Most of us would prefer to overlook that ultimate Beatitude.

The reality of our baptismal call is that we must all be ready to actually live that last Beatitude and we should never be shocked or surprised when it comes; and in whatever particular way that it may come to each one of us. We cannot live the Gospel only when it is easy, but we must especially strive to live it when it is most difficult. Yet when we rely on Him – and not ourselves – for strength and fortitude, we will be given the grace to continue serving Him joyfully and grow in faith, hope, and charity. As the poet Dante reminds us, In His will is our peace.

Because of the communion of saints, we are all united in joy and in suffering. The words of St. Paul ring ever so true where he says, “If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.” (1 Corinthians 12:26). Our blessed Lord did not have such consolations as he carried His Cross on the Via Dolorosa and when he was crucified on Calvary.

When we or someone we love suffers, it can be very easy to let understandable anger fester into something that is unjust and not of God. Hatred, rash anger and bitterness are unacceptable for a Christian. May any of these negative attitudes be banished from our minds and hearts. This only gives the devil (we don’t capitalize the fiend’s name) exactly what he wants. When we see a share in the Cross as a sign that the devil is trying to derail God’s good work, then we get a glimpse of the bigger picture; the view that God wants us to have, and see His hand bringing light out of darkness for the greater good and the salvation of our souls.When the wonderful work of St. Francis de Sales, the Bishop of Geneva, was being attacked, many urged him to condemn his enemies. He simply replied “Would you have me undo in fifteen minutes what the grace of God has taken twenty-five years to accomplish”? Nothing is ever solved by anger or by arguing. That is why the devil loves arguing. It only robs us of peace of soul and sets us up to commit many other sins

Prayer is our greatest weapon, and good fruit flows from it. Please remain vigilant in prayer, especially the Holy Rosary. Pray for the conversion of sinners and for those who have less than noble intentions. Our Lady crushes the head of the ancient serpent. Her Immaculate Heart will triumph! May we seek to please God in all things so that we may triumph with her.

MASS MANNERS: One phenomenon that is seen more and more in Church is the chewing of gum. Several priests and I have discussed this new practice which was unknown as recently as ten years ago. It seems more and more people chew gum in Church. Several priests have suggested that perhaps this is done in these days because of the frenetic pace of life that so many live, much of it brought on by the new technologies which never allow us to have peace of soul. As our pews are refurbished and cleaned, so much gum is found on them. It is my fond hope that the newly refurbished pews will be treated with respect.

Whatever may be the reason, as everyone knows eating and drinking are not permitted in the Church. This includes chewing gum. Particularly is this true if someone were planning to receive Holy Communion. Sadly, the Church pews are filled with gum, placed there not by strangers, but by our own parishioners. When I served in the USAF, it was not permitted to chew gum on base. This regulation was known and followed. Like all regulations in the military it was adhered to. No one to my knowledge rebelled against it saying things like Who are they to tell me what to do? I do what I want? Etc. May I kindly ask everyone to refrain from eating or drinking (including the chewing of gum) in the Church.